The education system in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem faces significant challenges, impacting students, teachers, and infrastructure. Poor-quality education results in a learning crisis, with inadequate pre-primary education and low reading proficiency limiting students' STEM potential. Conflict and external shocks disrupt learning, especially in vulnerable areas like Area C and East Jerusalem, where political instability and funding shortages exacerbate issues. Palestinian students also face frequent learning disruptions caused by ongoing conflict and external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, violent escalations, economic instability, infrastructure deficits, and teacher strikes. In vulnerable areas like Area C and East Jerusalem, political instability and funding shortages create additional barriers to educational continuity. 

The RiSE project was launched to improve education access, upgrade infrastructure, and revitalize semi-public spaces, using an area-based approach to enhance school conditions and student well-being. The project aimed to alleviate classroom shortages, enhance school appeal, and create spaces for extracurricular activities. 

The evaluation of the RiSE project centered on two main objectives: accountability and learning. Accountability assessed the project’s success in meeting its goals as required by donors and stakeholders, while learning identified successful strategies and areas for improvement. The evaluation provided insights for scaling or replicating similar projects using evidence-based decision-making. The RiSE project evaluation adhered to the OECD-DAC criteria, which provided a structured framework to assess relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability. These criteria ensured a comprehensive evaluation of both project outcomes and processes, delivering accountable, high-quality results for all stakeholders. Data collection included reviewing key program documents and conducting interviews with stakeholders. These methods provided a comprehensive assessment of the project's performance and impact, offering insights for future initiatives.